Wildcat News

Happy Thursday! A few things so you can stay in the know:

~ Focus Schools: Please be sure to read the information below related to Focus Schools. Should these interest you, please note the January 24th deadline to apply.

~ Climb to Feed Kids: It's that time of year again. Time to take on the Climb 2 Feed Kids fundraiser for Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP)! The Washington Wildcat Team will summiting Mount Kato in support of FOCP food programs, which provide important hunger-relief to food insecure youth right here in the Greater Mankato area. We see firsthand the power and impact this program has on students every year. The students are so excited and grateful for the bag of food they receive each week to ensure they get meals over the weekend and long breaks. Start your 2025 year off by doing something good and feel good by donating today. Thank you in advance for all your support. If you can't donate please consider sharing this link with others or come cheer on our Wildcat Team at Mount Kato on Feb. 2nd, 2025! Click on this link to donate to our Wildcat Team!

~ Save the Date--Family Game Night: The PTO is hosting our 2nd Annual Family Game Night on Friday, January 31 from 6:30-8:00pm at Washington Elementary. Please bring your favorite board games and/or card games to play with your family and friends (sorry--no large motor games this year--just not enough space). Please enter Door #3 for this event, AND we are respectfully asking for no food or drink as we don't want games to be ruined. Please use this link to volunteer--the PTO needs your help!

* BINGO will be played in the cafeteria from 6:45-7:45.

* Board games, including some demonstrations from Atlantic and maybe the Dork Den, will be played in the gym.

* Card games will be in the Media Center.

Silent Auction items will be on display in the open area near the office and available to bid on from 6:30-7:30pm, with silent auction winners announced at 7:45pm. Check out the pictures below for some of the AMAZING items that have already been donated. We are still accepting donations for Silent Auction items--just bring them to the office sometime before January 30. Even if you have stand alone items, PTO members will take those items and make them into a cool basket.

AND...we are still in need of BINGO prize donations. Some possible ideas: pencils, erasers, fidgets, simple games, small snacks, etc. Please bring donated prizes to the Washington office by January 30. It's not too late to donate BINGO prizes OR auction items!

~ No School: Just a friendly reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 27 as this is a day dedicated for teachers to write progress reports.

Thanks for your continued support of our work!

Ann Haggerty

Washington Principal

ahagge1@isd77.org

I have shared this many times over the course of the last 6-8 months but am resharing this again so everyone stays informed.

Families -

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child's education. As a reminder from our earlier communication, I want to share an important update regarding the timing of Progress Reports at MAPS elementary schools.

We changed the timing of Progress Reports to enhance our communication with families about student achievement. Progress Reports will now be issued in January and June, while Parent-Teacher Conferences will still take place in November and March. This change will allow families to receive updates on their child's progress four times a year, providing a clearer understanding of their achievement by the end of the school year.

Families will be able to access their child's Progress Report through the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. If you are unable to access it online, please feel free to request a paper copy by contacting your child’s school office.

Here are the key dates for the 2024-2025 school year:

• November 2024: Parent-Teacher Conferences

• January 29, 2025: Progress Reports

• March 2025: Parent-Teacher Conferences

• June 10, 2025: Progress Reports

Additionally, our Special Education teachers will report on progress toward IEP goals and objectives in January and June, aligning with the same timeline as general education reporting.

Here are the directions to view Elementary Progress Reports on Infinite Campus.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child's education. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Ann Haggerty

Principal

Families of budding scientists,

If you have a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader, you may have heard that your child is invited to embark on a journey of scientific discovery! The contract packet that recently went home is designed to help your family determine an intriguing testable question to focus on. If you and your child decide to take advantage of this memorable opportunity, please complete the last page of the contract and return it to school by Friday, January 31st. In return, your child will receive their own copy of the 2025 Science Fair Workbook; this workbook will include a proposed timeline, reminder of important dates, a working copy of the scientific method, information/ideas regarding display boards, and judging criteria that former Wildcats (currently juniors & seniors) will use as they interact with our scientists at our science fair on Tuesday, March 25th. If you have any questions, please use the contact information at the bottom of the contract packet that went home. If you need another copy of the contract, use the following link:

Link to the 2025 Washington Science Fair Contract

During the month of January, our entire school will focus on Habit #3: Put first things first. As parents/guardians, your understanding and support of our leadership work in this habit is very appreciated! I have found this language and learning to benefit ALL, not just students!

Habit 3, Put First Things First, is about learning how to prioritize and manage your time so that your first things come first, not last. Habit 3 is the habit of will-power (the strength to say yes to your most important things) and won’t-power (the strength to say no to less important things and to peer pressure).

Habit 3 emphasizes how to work toward our goals. Of all the habits, Habit 3 is the most difficult one to maintain. It is always easier to do simple or fun tasks first, so having a plan to complete lengthy or difficult assignments can be a challenge.

Understanding the Habit Putting First Things First means:

• Spending time on things that are most important.

• Saying “No” to things I know I shouldn’t do.

• Setting priorities, making a schedule, and following a plan.

• Being disciplined and organized.

Future skills that can be learned by putting first things first:

• Demonstrate time management skills

• Cultivate a strong work ethic, flexibility, and adaptability

• Develop intrapersonal skills of self-management

• Be accountable and responsible for actions and results

• Begin to cultivate analytical skills

“He who fails to plan, plans to fail”

We’re thrilled to share the next steps in our district’s Focus School initiative, following approval at the November school board meeting. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, our district will expand its elementary school offerings to include:

• Bridges Community School (Global Studies)

• Jefferson Elementary (Outdoor/Nature-Based)

• Rosa Parks Elementary (STEAM- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math)

At MAPS, we are committed to offering innovative educational opportunities that meet the diverse needs of our students. With these updates, families can now choose from three unique elementary school models:

• Neighborhood Schools foster a strong sense of community, helping students feel connected to the people and places around them. These schools include Eagle Lake, Franklin, Hoover, Kennedy, Monroe, Roosevelt, and Washington.

• Neighborhood+ Schools blend the neighborhood school experience with additional enrollment options centered on specific themes, enhancing learning and engagement. These schools include Jefferson and Rosa Parks.

• Community School brings together students from across the district through an application process, offering a specialized, nontraditional public school experience. This includes Bridges Community School.

Focus School Enrollment Timeline
Selecting the right school for your child is an important decision! Here’s what you need to know about the application process:

• Application Window: November 25, 2024 - January 24, 2025

• Notification of Enrollment: February 14, 2025

• Deadline to Accept/Decline: March 1, 2025

If applications are submitted after the window closes, they will automatically be added to a waitlist. Students may be admitted from the waitlist until July 15, 2025.

How to Apply
Applications can be submitted through the Infinite Campus Online Parent Portal now through January 24th, 2025. We encourage families to explore their options by scheduling a tour at the focus schools that interest them most.

To learn more about our focus schools and the application process, visit our Focus School webpage.

We’re excited about this new chapter in our district’s commitment to future focus education.

Excellence, Equity, Empowerment. Every student, Every day.

Email: ahagge1@isd77.org
Website: https://we.isd77.org/
Location: 1100 Anderson Drive
Phone: 507-345-3059